Casket



y 1944- w. H. WILLIAMS 2,350,084

CASKET Filed March s, 1943 2 Shees-Sheet 1 I grvumvtm mow: 6'. W/Al/AMS,

. May 30, 1944. v 'w. H. WILLIAMS 1,350,084

CCCC ET Filed March s, 1943 2' Shee ts -Sheet 2 Patented May 30, 1944 5.4.4.

t jl JJNITED STATE 'A N OFFICE CASKET I v Wayne 11. Williams, Bristol, Va. g I Application March 3, 1943, Serial No. 477,869

2 c ims.

This invention relates to a casket that isused for burial purposes, and has particular application to such a casket when displayed, before, duringiandafter the" burial ceremonies.

. n objec't of-the invention is to provide a casket s'whichwhen :the head section or head cap is in open position, provides ample room for insertion of the corpse within the casket, and without disturbing the delicate interior furnishings or decorations of'the casket. i t

"Another object of the invention is to provide a two-piece "casket head cap which when in open or closed positionpresents no catches or clasps which often tear the veils which are used on the casket after a body has been placed therein, and during the burial ceremonies. These veils] are very expensive; some .of which cost as much as one hundred dollars. They are used over and over again and have been subject to damage by the catches which heretofore were used to hold the head cap in closed position on the casket.

Another object of the invention is to provide a casket having a head cap consisting of two hinged covers, each hinged to the opposite sides of the O. G., or side walls of the casket.

A further object of the invention is to provide a half couch type of casket having folding sections for the head cap of the casket, including one section hinged to the back 0. G., and the other section composed of two parts, hinged to each other, one part of said two part sections being hinged to the front 0. G.

Still another object of the invention is to improve the general appearance and attractiveness of the casket, both in open and in closed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a concealed catch on the vertical wall of the foot cap, for holding the front and back head cap sections in closed position, as well as other concealed catches on said parts for the same purpose.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter, throughout the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of the invention, showing the head cap sections in open position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l, but showing the head cap sections in closed position;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the casket shown in Figure 2; and

Figures 4, 5 and 6 disclose different scroll cuts for the back head cap.

Illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is an octagon sided casket I, which, however, may be conpart front section 9.

0. G. 4. That portion of the back 0. G. 3, which is adjacent to the head sections is numbered 5.

: The foot cap has a vertical wall 6 and below this vertical:wa1l is across piece 'I forming a support for the lower sides-of the sectional head cap. a i i The head cap consists of a back section 8 which is hinged at its rear extremities to the upper orhead portion of theback O. .G. 5, and a two- .The lower part III is in reality. the head portion of the front 0. G;, and is hinged at. l2 and. 13 to the lower. front side of the casket. This part III is hinged at 14 and 15 to the upper part of;lthe front head section I. asshown in Figure 2 ofthe drawings.

The back section head cap 8 has a forward oval convex edge I6 and a right hand straight edge I! which makes a right angle with the rear side of the coffin, and an angularly related left hand straight edge I8 which meet a similar ed e IQ of the top piece 20 when the parts are in the position shown in Figures 2 and 3. The top piece is provided with hinges 2| and 22 by which it is pivoted to the top 0. G. 23.

The upper part of front head section I! has an oval concave'edge 24 which forms a smooth almost unbroken surface with the convex edge 16 0f the back section head cap. The parts are connected together by the concealed eye 25 on the back section head cap and hook 26 on the upper part of the front head section II, which latter is provided witha right hand straight edge 21 having a concealed socket (not shown), which receives the spring-pressed stud member 28 on vertical wall 6 when the parts are in closed position.

Similarly, the top piece 20 is provided with a spring-pressed stud member 29 which is received in the socket 30 of the left hand side edge 3| of section II. The numerals 32 and 33 indicate the usual supporting or carrying handles for the casket.

The section II is provided with rosettes 34 which are attached by cords 35 to the section I I to assist in opening the front head section 9.

The interior of the back section head cap 8 may be provided with a roll cap 36, a ray 3'! and a centrally located corsage 38 to enhance the appearance of the interior when exposed to view.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 disclose several different types of scrolls forming the forward edges of the back section head cap, it being understood of course when the parts are in the position shown in Figures 2 and 3. The back section 8 and the twopart front section 9 provide a larger opening for insertion of the body. Additionally when the parts are in the position shown in'Figure 2, the

- cap section, means pivoting said back section to a said front section and to obscure a portion of the side wall of the casket, said front section head can having a rear curved edge, the curved edges of the head sections when in closed position being in abutting relation to each other and preventing transverse movement of said head cap sections with relation to each other, said closed top having supporting means and said head cap sections having side edges adapted to rest upon said supporting means when the head cap sections are in closed position.

2. A casket having a closed top for the lower end portion thereof and an upper end portion capable of being opened, said upper end portion being lined and comprising side walls, a back head side wall to support said back head can section coflin may be placed on a higher'pedes'tal during i the burial ceremonies and still permit a view of the entire head of the deceased. The top piece when opened 'forms a support forpillows and other accessories for supporting the head of the deceased in fullyexposed position; Having thus described my1invention, .what I claim is:. l

' l. A casket havinga closed top for the lower end portion thereof and an uppery'end portion capable of beingfopened, said upper end portion being lined and comprising; side walls, aback head cap section, means pivoting said back secsaid casket to permit the same to be pivoted to an open position substantially parallel with the casket walltodisplay the lining on the interior of im an upstanding position to display the lining on the interior thereof, and having a forward curved edge, a front section head cap comprising two sectionto another side wall of said casket to permit the samegto be pivotedto an open position substantially parallel with the casket wall and to display the lining onthe interioriof said front section andvto obscure a portion of the sidewall of the casket,said frontsection head cap having a rear curvededge, the curved edges of the head sections when in closed position'being in abutting relation to each other and preventing transverse movement of said head can sections with relation to each other, said closed top having supporting means and said head cap sections having side edgesadapted to rest upon said supporting means when; the head cap sections are in closed position. a: 1

- I --..WAYNE H. WILLIAMS. 

